Paint Specialties

Decorative painting techniques

Tape is the secret

Do you love wallpaper but hate the options available? Or maybe you want something a little easier to install and touch up down the road? You can use paint to get the same look of paper and it isn't as difficult as you think.

Pin stripes are one of my favorite techniques. Go bold with two colors or create an understated style with two shades of the same color. Paint the wall the lighter color first and let it dry completely. Then lay out your stripes with painters tape. Paint again with the darker color. Peel of the tape and voila! Perfect stripes. I like to use this technique beneath a chair rail, with a solid color above the rail. You can do small or wide stripes, depending on your preferences.

Faux picture frames are another paint technique that just requires tape. Tape off a square or rectangle on the wall. Measure out a few inches and tape of a second larger square around the first. Paint the space between the two with a paint that contrasts with the surrounding wall. The result in a perfect square frame to hang artwork inside of.

You an use tape to make outlines of more complex shapes. Paint inside the taped lines then peel off the tape to reveal a lovely silhouette mural. You can take this a step further and use the tape to create a large design on the wall. For example, tape off a large diamond or checkerboard pattern. Use two colors of paint or two shades of the same color to transfer the pattern to the wall.

The Magic of Murals

Turning your walls into art.

In many cases, I see a painted wall as a backdrop to the rest of the room's décor. For this reason I tend to select light, neutral colors that brighten a room without detracting from the items within. Eggshell, pastel peaches and blues, cream or even ivory white are my paint colors of choice. But sometimes a wall needs a bit more. In fact, sometimes the paint on the wall should provide the entire focal point of the room.

A painted mural provides major impact in a room, but if you're like me you might not consider yourself a skilled enough artist to pull it off. Boy was I wrong! You can create a simple mural with paint with minimal artistic prowess. Just remind yourself that if you don't like it you can easily paint over it again.

My first foray into murals was when we bought our house a few years ago. My youngest boy wanted his room to look like the outdoors. I began by painting the entire room a pretty sky blue. Once the paint dried, I sketched out the mural on the wall using painter's tape. Why painter's tape? Because it is cheap and I can pull it off to rework the design without damaging the paint beneath.

For his room I painted clouds on the walls and ceiling using a large sponge and white paint. I then added details to the clouds in different shades of white and with pale grays. Very convincing and easy to do! Then I used a thin paintbrush and several shades of green to add a grassy border just above the baseboards.

I finished off the whole room mural by turning his ceiling fan into the sun. I painted the blades to resemble sun rays and fitted the light cover in the center with a pale yellow one. An added benefit is the yellow cover gives harsh fluorescent bulbs a softer hue similar to incandescent light.

Refurbishing Wood Furniture

Clean, stain, enjoy!

Do you have a scuffed table, a worn wood chair, or a shelf that has seen better days? I know I do. I have a beautiful little oak side table I picked up at a yard sale years ago. When I first got it, it was in pretty good condition. There were a few spots around the edges where the finish had worn thin, but nothing too noticeable. Eight years, four moves and two kids later, it's starting to look a bit worse for wear. The finish has worn through completely in some areas, while scratches mar others. The idea of painting over the beautiful wood grain seemed a waste, but I wasn't sure what else to do.

Enter the art of restaining. Unlike refinishing, staining over a piece doesn't require the elbow grease or labor of refinishing. If the wood is in good condition but the finish is worn, the piece is a good choice for this paint method. You also have to choose a stain color the same or slightly darker than the old one, since you won't be sanding off all the old stain.

Clean the wood with a diluted ammonia solution or a weak paint thinner. This breaks down any remaining varnish or shellac while also removing dirt and grease. Once that's done, sand the whole thing lightly with a fine-grit sandpaper or a fine-gauge steel wool. You don't want to etch it, just lightly abrade the surface. The wood should still feel smooth to the touch.

From there it's simple. Paint two or three thin coats of stain onto the wood, allowing them to dry completely. Once the last coat is dried, apply the sealer of your choice. Varnish, shellac, polyurethane or a linseed polish all work equally well, although the polish will need periodic reapplication. My little oak table looks brand new!

Paint or Stain?

More furniture finishing ideas.

After all the work of scraping and sanding, you may feel like your furniture painting project is just about done. While the prep work is vital to a good looking piece of restored furniture, your finish choice will play the most important role in the finished product. The wrong paint or stain can undo all your hard work and result in an ugly piece of wood.

First, you must decide whether you want to paint or stain the wood. Stain does not cover the wood grain. If the wood beneath the stain is imperfect and unattractive, stain likely won't fix the problem. You should only use a stain on wood furniture with an attractive grain. Also, avoid stain if you weren't able to remove all the old paint or if there are dark stains on the wood. Stain will just make these issues more noticeable.

A latex paint is the answer for repainting imperfect wood items or those made from plywood or other materials that don't have a true wood grain. When properly applied, paint can cover minor imperfections. The trick to success with paint is to apply a primer to the furniture first. The primer provides a smooth and even surface for the paint. Primer can also prevent peeling and chipping down the road.

Whether you choose paint or stain, apply it in two or three thin coats. The first coat likely won't provide even coverage and may look a little streaky. This is especially important with stain, since the wood will absorb the first one or two coats. Avoid water-based stains or paints. Wood absorbs the water out of the paint which results in raised grain, which is very unattractive.

Is It Chic or Just Shabby?

Getting vintage right.

I like vintage and antique designs, but I also love simplicity. I send quite a bit of time learning about different painting and furniture restoration techniques because the furniture I love is often too much of a stretch on my pocketbook. I also scour secondhand stores for furniture that could be turned into something amazing with a bit of time and little money. It seems a lot of people have the same idea, because I have seen some horrible restoration jobs out there.

Shabby chic isn't as popular as it was a few years ago, but I still like some of the designs. This style is slightly romantic and very old fashioned in look. One of the cornerstones of the design is weathered, slightly beat up furnishings. Some people take this too far, though. I've seen otherwise attractive furniture that has been so roughed up it looks like someone took a power grinder to it. Horribly clashing paint and overly bold colors are another common mistake.

My trick for shabby chic painting is simple, but it works. I paint the furniture first with a darker color. I like light browns, turquoise or sage greens here. You can go a bit bold with this color since only a bit will show when you are done. Once the paint dries, I rub beeswax on the corners and edges. You don't want to go overboard, but cover all the areas where normal wear and tear occurs on furniture.

After applying the beeswax, it's time to plaint on the final color. Nothing too garish, please! Typically shades of white or cream are used for this final coat. Let it dry, then sand lightly on all the areas where you applied beeswax. The top coat of paint easily flakes away and reveals the color beneath, giving it the shabby look.

Prepping Before You Paint

Get professional results.

Paint can make a room look like new, giving it a fresh look without the expense or time of an involved remodel. Many homeowners put off painting because it seems difficult to get the professional results they desire. The secret to a perfect paint job lies mainly in what you do before you even crank open a paint can.

Wash the walls

Wipe down all the walls and baseboards with a dilute vinegar solution. This removes greasy fingerprints and dust that can cause uneven coverage when you do paint. Make sure the walls are completely dry before you proceed.

Fix Holes

Remove nails and picture hooks. Fill in the holes left behind with spackle, smoothing it on with a putty knife. Let the spackle set and dry completely.

Tape

Use painter's tape to tape off baseboards, outlets and switch covers, and around anything else you don't want paint on. Use actual painter's tape because it's easier to remove than masking tape.

Prime First

A coat of primer on the walls ensures even paint coverage. Some paints advertise that they include primer, so no primer coat is necessary. These work if the walls are in good condition and aren't a dark color, otherwise you will want to use a separate primer. Allow the primer coat to dry for a few hours before you begin painting.

Test Your Technique

If you are planning to use a decorative painting technique, test it on a scrap of wood or drywall first. This allows you to master the brush strokes and color combinations before you put it on the wall.